Saltuarius cornutus or Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko

The Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko lives in rainforests in Queensland's wet topics around Cooktown. During the day the Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko shelter under peeling bark and in crevices. This is one of Australia's largest geckoes, growing up to 22 cm long.

The patterning of the Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko allows them to blend in perfectly with the lichen- and moss-covered tree trunks they inhabit. The female will dig a nest in the soil, lay two eggs, and then cover the eggs over with dirt and leaves. Females will sometimes lay multiple clutches of eggs per season, and many females have been found laying their eggs in a communal nest.

The body of this gecko is very prickly, but their tail is very soft, almost like velvet. As will all geckoes, Leaf-tails are able to drop their tail if they feel feel threatened, for example, by a potential predator. They can then regrow their tail, though the regenerated appendage is generally smaller and of a different texture and pattern. If the predator manages to eat the tail, they will be rewarded with a meal that is very high in fat.

Did you know...

The northern leaf-tail gecko lives in rainforests in Queensland's wet tropics around Cairns and Cooktown.

Their patterning allows them to blend in perfectly with the lichen- and moss-covered tree trunks they inhabit.

The body of this gecko is very prickly, but their tail is very soft, almost like velvet.

As with all geckoes, leaf-tails are able to drop their tail if they feel feel threatened. They can then regrow their tail, athough the regenerated appendage is generally smaller and of a different texture and pattern.

Where Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko dwell in Australia:

The Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko is one of Australia's largest geckoes, growing up to 22 cm long.